WHAT WE BELIEVE...
Susquehanna Valley Baptist Church, PO Box 126541, Harrisburg, PA
17112-9998
Pastor W. Brandon Starnes | (717)
919-8941 |
susquehannavalleybaptist@email.com
Use the Ctrl+F function to search our doctrinal statement.
About the Holy Scriptures:
We believe
in the Holy Scriptures as the authoritative rule in the local church
both in faith and practice. These “Holy Scriptures” are composed of the Old
and New Testaments. The original writings (Masoretic Hebrew Text and the
Greek Textus Receptus) have both verbal and plenary inspiration and
are inerrant. They are also infallible (not capable of having error), and
are (not just contain) the Word of God (Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8, II
Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:20-21).
We reject, emphatically, the Ruckman position of “King James
only” as well as the critical text view. We believe that God, who is that
“only wise God,” preserved for the English speaking people the King James
Version. Because of preservation, the King James Version is the inspired,
inerrant, infallible Word of God.
About God:
We believe
in the one true Godhead. God has been and is revealed in three individual
persons, but is united in one equal Godhead. The three persons are the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All are co-equal in power, glory, and
perfections (Genesis1:1, 26, Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19-20, John 1:1-3,
Colossians 1:16).
About Jesus Christ:
We believe
in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although being in existence before
the beginning, He chose to condescend to earth in the form of a man through
His birth to the virgin Mary (Micah 5:2, Matthew 1:16, Luke 1:35, 2:7).
We believe that Christ lived a perfect life, thereby becoming a
perfect sacrifice capable of appeasing a Holy God. Through His perfect
life, he showed us how to live. In His death, he paid our sin debt. Rising
from the dead, He allowed our destiny to be sealed (Philippians 2:5-8, I
Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 6:3-5).
We believe that Christ became the perfect atonement for our
sins. That with his pure, holy blood and death on the cross, He became the
vicarious (filling the place of another) sacrifice for the sins of the
world. He then ascended into heaven to completely fulfill the office of the
priesthood by placing His blood on the mercy-seat, thus making the final
sacrifice for our sins (Romans3:24-25, Galations 4:5, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews
7:27).
We believe that Jesus Christ now sits on the right hand of God
the Father in Heaven. He acts as our Mediator and intercedes on our
behalf. The Father gave all judgments into Christ’s hand, and He will one
day come again and receive his bride unto Himself (Hebrews 12:2, I John
2:1-2, Hebrews 7:25, I Corinthians 3:11-15, Philippians 1:10-11, I
Thessalonians 4:16-17, Titus 2:13).
About the Holy Spirit:
We believe
that the Holy Spirit is that Comforter that was given to indwell believers
and sent at the time of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is complete Deity and is
not to be taken lightly. He is the key agent in the conviction of sinners
and therefore necessary for repentance unto salvation. He is the One who
regenerates, baptizes, seals, and imparts gifts unto the believers (John
14:16-17, Acts 2:2-4, Matthew 12:31, Ephesians 4:30, John 16:7-11, Romans
8:9, II Thessalonians 2:7,11-12, II Corinthians 3:6, Romans 6:3-5, Ephesians
1:13, Ephesians 4:11).
About the Condition of Man:
We believe
that man is totally depraved. This means that man was created in the
likeness of God, but through rebellion he fell. Through Adam’s sin, every
man inherited a sin nature, which alienates us from the righteous God.
There is no righteousness in man, and he can do nothing to save himself from
God’s judgment (Genesis 1:26-27, I Timothy 2:14, Romans 5:12,19, Psalm
14:2-3, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:5-6).
About Salvation:
We believe
that salvation is by grace through faith. Salvation is a free gift of God.
This gift is offered to all men of all races, and “whosoever will” can
become a son of God. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ can be had
through faith and repentance (confessing and forsaking of sins). This gift
was purchased by the death and shed blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16-17,
Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, I Peter 1:18-19).
We also believe in the Bible doctrine of eternal security of the
believer. All those that have confessed sin and accepted Christ as their
Savior are forever sealed. They can not “lose” their salvation no matter
what happens (John 6:37-40, I Peter 1:5, I John 5:13).
We reject the view of Easy Believism. Easy Believism deletes
the necessity of repentance and makes salvation superficial because it
denies in practice the work of the Holy Spirit. In salvation, there is a
divine side and a human side. This practice puts very little emphasis on
the divine side, while overemphasizing the human side. Therefore, the
“process of evangelism” becomes a humanistic effort.
We reject the view of Lordship Salvation. I believe that when a
sinner accepts Christ, he accepts all that Christ is (Savior, Lord,
Redeemer, King, etc). However, the Christian life is a life of growth and a
process of sanctification. Lordship Salvation does not allow for a process
of growth in the Christian life. While a Christian can never be sinless,
the Christian when yielded to Christ Jesus can sin less.
About Christian Living:
We believe
in righteous, holy living and God-honoring works. These works are not a
means of salvation but are proper evidence of salvation. This holy
lifestyle will come only through a Spirit filled life and an intimate
relationship with Christ Jesus’ commands (Matthew 28:19-20, Ephesians 2:10,
Romans 12:1-2).
About the Nature of Man:
We believe
that regenerate man has two natures. These two natures are the “old man”
and the “new man”. While there will be a continual struggle between these
two natures, God has made a provision that can enable the “new man” to be
victorious in this present life. However, the “new man” will never
completely defeat and eradicate the “old man”. This eradication of the “old
man” will only happen when we receive our new bodies (Romans 6:6, Ephesians
4:22, I Peter 1:14-16).
About Biblical Separation:
We believe
in biblical separation. As believers, we should separate ourselves from
those who believe and propagate false doctrine (II Corinthians 6:14-18, II
John 9-11, Jude 3).
We believe that we should live our lives to please a holy God,
and separate ourselves from worldly pleasures that would cause a reproach to
Christ’s name and the local assembly of believers (I Thessalonians 3:6-7, II
Timothy 6:5-8, I Peter 4:4, I John 2:15-17).
We believe that music should present the truths of Scripture.
Music should follow after the requirements of holiness and glorify the
Godhead. It should also not be after “our former lust”, but it should be a
“new song.” We believe music should testify of a change in a Christian’s
life (Psalm 33:3, 40:2-3, 96:1, 144:9, Ephesians 5:19-20, Colossians 3:16).
We believe that the state should be separate from the local
church and have no power over it. I believe that civil government was
ordained of God and is profitable. We believe that as an American citizen,
we should partake faithfully and intelligently in elections (Matthew
22:15-22, Acts 5:29, Romans 13:1-7, Titus 3:1).
About the Church:
We believe
in the biblical church. The Church had its birth at the day of Pentecost
when the Holy Spirit came and indwelled saved men. We believe that the
primary focus in the New Testament is the Local Church. The “bride of
Christ” is the spiritual organism, which is made of all believers in the
Church age. (Revelation 19:7-10, 21:2).
We believe in the autonomy (self-governing) of the local
church. We also believe that it is the right of the church (local) to be
self-propagating as the Lord leads, believing that it is through the church
the “Great Commission” is to be fulfilled (Acts 13:1-4, 15:1-41, I
Corinthians 11:23-26).
We believe that the local church was given two ordinances.
These two ordinances are baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Table. With
baptism, we follow the Lord in obedience and give public testimony of our
salvation. The Lord’s Table is done in remembrance and is not necessary for
salvation (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:41-42, I Corinthians 11:23-26).
We believe that the local church has the right to discipline its
members according to Biblical principles. If a brother strays from the true
way, it is the duty of the Church to restore such a one in meekness (Matthew
18:15-19, I Corinthians 5:1-13, Galations 6:1, II Thessalonians 3:7-15,
Titus 3:10-11).
About Dispensationalism:
We believe
in scriptural dispensationalism. These dispensations are not different ways
of salvation, but are different periods of stewardship. We believe in seven
different dispensations. Innocency (Genesis 1:28). Conscience (Genesis
3:23). Human Government (Genesis 8:20). Promise (Genesis 12:1). Law
(Exodus 19:8). Grace (Romans 1:17). Kingdom (Ephesians :10). We reject the
view of the “Hyper-dispensationalist.”
About Satan:
We believe
in the person and personality of Satan. He was originally created a holy
being, but through pride and wicked ambition, he rebelled against God. He
is the leader of all fallen angels and wicked spirits and continues to
deceive today. Satan had his judgment sealed on the Cross of Calvary, and
he shall have his eternal punishment in the lake of fire. Although very
powerful, yet he is a defeated foe (Isaiah 14:12-15, Ephesians 6:12, I Peter
5:8, I John 3:8, Revelation 12:9-11, 20:10).
About the Second Coming of
Christ:
We believe
in the second coming of Christ. This second coming is in two parts. The
first part of the advent will occur when He “raptures” His Church
(privately). This “rapturing” is the “Blessed Hope” of the Church. The
second part of the advent will occur when He comes to set up His literal
earthly kingdom, in which he will rule and reign for a thousand years (I
Thessalonians 4:13-18, Hebrews 10:37, James 5:8, Jude 14-15, Revelation
19:11-16, 20:4-7).
About the Eternal State of Man:
We believe
in the eternal state of man. The believer is secured in Christ, and at the
appointed hour of death, the saved go immediately to be with Christ in
Heaven. The believer’s works will be tried at the Judgment Seat of Christ
for the determination of rewards. The lost (unbelieving) man’s soul will
descend after death immediately to Hell (a literal lake of fire with
torment). There, they will await the final Day of Judgment (I Corinthians
15, II Corinthians 5:8-10, Revelation 20:10).
About Marriage:
We believe in
the marriage of one husband and one wife. Marriage was ordained from God
the Father in the beginning of time. This sacred institution is blessed by
God and the church through its union. Marriage is reserved to one man and
one woman alone (not man and man or woman and woman). The present plague of
homosexuality must be withstood and pronounced as an abomination.
This union is inseparable until “death do us part”. This union
is forbidden, by God in an unequal yoke of believer and nonbeliever (Genesis
2:24, Matthew 5:32, Mark 10:5-12, Romans 7:2, I Corinthians 7:10-11, II
Corinthians 6:14, Hebrews 13:4).
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